I became a movie star at the age of three; Dilraba and I are childhood sweethearts.

She rushed into Xiao Chen's arms like a gust of wind.

"Oh my god! I miss you so much!"

(I miss you so much)

Avril clung tightly to Xiao Chen's neck, her legs practically wrapped around his.

Due to the force of the impact, Xiao Chen took half a step back.

He smiled helplessly, his hands slightly outstretched to avoid getting the mud on her clothes.

"Avril, let go, I'm dirty."

He had spent many years traveling abroad, and his English pronunciation was elegant, pure, and magnetic.

But Avril didn't care about any of that.

She buried her head in Xiao Chen's neck like a clingy kitten.

"I don't care! Do you know how many times I've called you?"

"You heartless man, leaving me all alone in Canada!"

Xiao Chen chuckled and gently patted her back, a gesture of comfort like an older brother would give to his younger sister.

"We're filming a TV show, and the whole world is watching."

Avril looked up at the camera nonchalantly and even stuck out her tongue playfully.

Her beautiful blue eyes were filled with Xiao Chen's reflection, brimming with undisguised admiration.

This scene made Sha Yi's eyes nearly pop out of their sockets.

"Oh my god... this, this is Avril Lavigne, the rock diva?"

"So direct? Chen, your international business is expanding quite extensively!"

Leslie Cheung and Anita Mui remained calm, exchanging a glance with smiles on their lips.

They had seen this kind of scene many times abroad. In the eyes of those foreign female celebrities, Xiao Chen's face was that of an "Oriental goddess".

But Liu Yifei and Dilraba's expressions weren't so pleasant.

Dilraba was originally holding a bamboo basket, but now her knuckles are turning white from gripping it so tightly.

She felt a pang of jealousy as she watched the blonde beauty tightly embrace her "Brother Chen".

The sense of crisis of having one's childhood sweetheart "snatched away" instantly surged.

Liu Yifei lowered her eyes, feeling inexplicably choked up.

She recalled the tenderness with which Xiao Chen had helped her up in the mud, a tenderness she had always thought was unique to him.

It seems now that there are far too many outstanding women surrounding him.

International superstars, top celebrities...

Deep down, Liu Yifei felt a sense of inferiority she had never experienced before.

Xiao Chen sensed the subtle tension in the atmosphere.

He patted Avril's shoulder again and calmly pulled her out of his arms.

"Alright, now that we're here, let's go back to the Mushroom House first; it's windy here."

Avril was obedient and knew when to stop.

Although she's a cool and edgy pop star in public, she's as obedient as an intern in front of Xiao Chen.

Back at the Mushroom House, before Xiao Chen could even assign tasks...

Avril immediately rolled up her sleeves and volunteered to help Xiao Chen carry the basket.

"Shawn, what do you want me to do? Wash the vegetables? Or kill the fish?"

Xiao Chen pointed to the loach on the ground, "Dare to catch it?"

Without saying a word, Avril reached out to grab it, and didn't get angry even after being splattered with mud by the loach.

Instead, he turned to Xiao Chen and grinned foolishly.

"Look, I caught him!"

Sha Yi shook his head at the sight of that pleading expression on his face.

"Idol disillusionment! This isn't a rock diva, she's just a fangirl."

Liu Yifei was silently picking vegetables on the side, the celery in her hands making a cracking sound as she pinched it.

She peeked out of the corner of her eye.

Seeing Avril circling around Xiao Chen, praising his cool moves and his unbeatable profile, one moment she was amazed.

Her heart ached even more.

"Xiao Chen, let me help you too."

Liu Yifei walked over, her voice soft but with a hint of stubbornness.

Xiao Chen looked up at her and nodded slightly, "Okay, then help me peel these garlic cloves."

In the kitchen, Xiao Chen put on an apron.

He wore that simple blue apron with such flair that it looked like a haute couture gown.

He held the knife steadily, and the sound of chopping vegetables rang rhythmically.

Avril leaned against the door frame, her eyes shining.

"Shawn, you look so hot in an apron!"

"You should make a movie about cooking; I'd watch it a hundred times!"

Xiao Chen didn't even raise his head; his knife skills were astonishingly swift.

"Stop joking, go help Dilraba wipe the table."

"Yes, boss!"

Avril skipped away.

Sha Yi leaned closer to Dilraba and asked in a low voice, "Hey girl, what's that foreign girl saying? Why are you blushing like that?"

Dilraba bit her lip and muttered softly, "She said Brother Chen looks sexy in an apron, and she wants to watch the movie a hundred times..."

Sha Yi clicked his tongue twice. "Hey, this foreign girl, she really dares to say anything!"

He turned to look at Xiao Chen.

Xiao Chen was processing the large grass carp, his expression focused, the blade flashing swiftly.

That composed demeanor was undeniably incredibly handsome.

"Forget about foreign girls, if I were a woman, I'd be tempted too," Sha Yi thought to himself.

Dilraba and Liu Yifei exchanged a glance, and surprisingly, a kind of "united front" was formed in their eyes.

crisis.

A tremendous sense of crisis.

Before we've even had dinner, the smell of vinegar in this yard is enough to make sauerkraut.

Xiao Chen, however, seemed oblivious to these undercurrents.

He was just thinking to himself that since Avril was here, the braised pork tonight had to be made to be authentic.

After all, this girl flew all the way here; it wasn't easy for her.

This maturity and composure beyond his years is the core reason why he made these female celebrities fall for him.

It's not that he doesn't understand; it's just that he cares more about doing the present task well.

This kind of unintentional charm is the most lethal.

As night falls, warm yellow lights illuminate the farmhouse courtyard, making the abundant dishes on the table glisten and fill the air with their aroma.

The rich aroma of meat, the spicy scent of shrimp, and the crispy fragrance of fish intertwined, like an invisible hand, captivating the souls of everyone present.

Xiao Chen brought the last plate of steamed fish to the table, took off his blue apron, and casually draped it over the back of the chair next to him.

"Dinner is ready."

His voice was clear and bright, carrying a hint of languor after a busy day, yet it sounded like an imperial edict.

"Gurgle—"

A clear, awkward, and loud rumbling sound broke the momentary bliss of the crowd.

Sha Yi blushed, clutched his stomach, and chuckled dryly.

"I can't take it anymore! Nobody can keep up!"

"Xiao Chen, you're not giving us a chance to survive! Just smelling it makes me want to eat three bowls of rice!"

Everyone burst into laughter.

Avril's emerald eyes were already glued to the plate of braised pork, the pieces of meat were cooked to a bright red and translucent color, the sauce was thick and trembled slightly with the steam.

She had only seen Xiao Chenlu's cooking in photos and videos before, and this was the first time she had the chance to taste it in person.

She almost reverently picked up her chopsticks and took a trembling piece of pork belly.

The pork skin was chewy and bouncy, the fatty meat melted in her mouth, and the lean meat was tender and flavorful. The salty and sweet, rich and mellow taste exploded on her taste buds.

"Oh my God..."

Avril's eyes widened in disbelief, her beautiful face filled with astonishment.

She stopped chewing and just stared blankly at Xiao Chen, as if witnessing a miracle.